Rep. Kelly Voices Concerns with U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

Washington, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (PA-03) sent a letter to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, regarding the Administration’s decision to join the negotiations for the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which open today in New York. The letter, which was co-signed by 130 members of the House, expresses Rep. Kelly’s concerns that the U.N.’s actions to date indicate that the ATT is likely to pose significant threats to our national security, foreign policy, and economic interests as well as our constitutional rights. 

“Unfortunately, this treaty poses major risks to rights protected by the Second Amendment, rights as dear to me as they are to the folks I represent back in Northwest Pennsylvania. I am also concerned that the treaty will seriously harm our nation’s national security and foreign policy interests by limiting our ability to arm our allies, by burdening our defense industrial base, by facilitating the arming of terrorists, and by placing free democracies and totalitarian regimes on the same footing.”

“I am proud to work with so many of my colleagues in this cause, and I’ll remain engaged with this issue to protect the rights and interests of Pennsylvanians and folks throughout the nation.”

The National Rifle Association (NRA), a nonprofit organization with over four million members that advocates for the protection of Second Amendment rights, called Rep. Kelly’s letter, “an important message,” commenting that:

“Any international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) that in any way, shape or form affects the constitutional rights of American gun owners is unacceptable. International organizations and foreign governments do not have the right to restrict the fundamental freedoms handed down to us from our Founding Fathers.” -- Chris Cox, Executive Director, NRA-ILA.

To read the letter, click here.

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